(x)
"Mr Woolsey, this is Zelenka." Said the Doctor, through the hand held comm. unit Woolsey noticed, not his head unit.
He breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm delighted to hear from you Doctor, what was the delay?"
"I'm sorry, the comm. issues have got worse and this is not the only door to shut and refuse to open. It was simpler and certainly quicker to find a route around. If you would give me a moment I will do a diagnostic and see what I can do."
"Very well," Richard shifted uneasily hoping that Zelenka would solve the problem quickly. Nature was calling and between the bird still sitting hopefully on the balcony and his innate distaste for performing biological functions in anything but a proper facility things were getting uncomfortable.
His father had often said on long car journeys "think of something else." Mr Woolsey tried. The bird's staring was making it difficult.
"This is very strange," Said Radek, through the comm. "I have removed the wall plates a little further back than my friend and there is a film of black mould."
Richard blinked, "Mould? As in a fungus? Penicillin? What kind of mould?"
"I will have to get a sample to Dr Keller to determine that, it follows one of the pipes that make up the sewage system."
Richard blinked again, "You're telling me we need a plumber?"
"No, no, the system is fully automated thankfully. But the mould seems to create interference in the power relays it crosses. I am trying to scrub it away but it is most adhesive. I must get a sample to Dr Keller immediately. I am very sorry Mr Woolsey but this may take some time. "
Richard groaned under his breath, "Then I think it may be time to attempt a rescue by Jumper."
"Most certainly, but while I was on the way here I received a message that the Jumper bay doors now refuse to open."
Various things to say at that point hovered on the tip of Woolsey's tongue and died there. It wasn't Dr Zelenka's fault, at least, not as far as Mr Woolsey knew. "Very well Doctor," he thought for a moment, "Much as I want to get off this balcony the first priorities must be access to the Gateroom, Jumper bay and Infirmary. Make sure those area's and the comm. are functional and then come back for me."
"Understood, Zelenka out."
Richard rubbed his temples, the bird ruffled its feathers and hunched it shoulders. It almost looked sympathetic, as if to say "hey, we're in this together."
Slowly Richard got up; there was something he simply had to deal with.
The bird didn't seem to object, simply shuffled along the balcony.
Richard having examined the height of the Balcony rail slowly moved the chair until it was up against the balcony wall, climbed on the seat equally slowly, undid his trousers and did what had to be done over the edge.
The bird watched with interest but made no aggressive moves.
Richard hoped there was no one stuck down below.